Shoebox: Homemade Light Box, Cardboard Designs

Carol Duvall Show : Episode CDS-1360 -- More Projects » By Carol Duvall

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Today our Shoebox contained an item with no postmark. Instead of something sent in by one of our viewers, this one came from one of today’s guests, Michael Strong. Michael brought his clever item with him because he thought it would be an appropriate contribution to the Shoebox. How right he was! It was a light box made out of a shoebox! Inside the box is a strand of white Christmas lights, which give off plenty of light but very little heat (figure A). A small hole cut at one end allows the cord to come through (figure B). The top of the box is cut out, leaving about a 1-inch border on all sides, and on top of this goes a piece of heavy duty plastic cut from the front of a plastic notebook purchased at an office supply store or discount store (figure C).

The plastic, which is cut to fit the entire top of the shoebox, is frosted, so it automatically diffuses the light and is sturdy enough to support your drawing when tracing stencils, etc. Terrific!

Figure D

Figure E

The horse on the left is of the stacked corrugated cardboard. The flag is constructed of three cardboard rolls.

Our second contribution today was also from a gentleman...and coincidentally, a gentleman who also makes things from throwaways, as Michael does. John Rawlins of Lake City, Fla., first mailed a letter that included photographs of his projects. Though he explained how he made the pumpkins, teddy bears, wall hangings, etc., from corrugated cardboard and the photographs were very good, we couldn’t quite believe it. We just HAD to see them. So John very kindly sent us a half-dozen of his creations, and they were indeed wonderfully done. He explained that he uses nothing new. All of the items are made from cut up cartons. He starts by cutting workable sized pieces of the cardboard, then glues four layers together using white school glue. After drying overnight, he cuts the designs out using a scroll saw and then paints them with several coats of paint (figures D & E). John sells his clever creations at art fairs and says that he has yet to see anybody else who does this.

His work is not only imaginative and clever but the execution is excellent. Everyone in the studio was very impressed.

Also in this Episode

Carol Duvall Show : Episode CDS-1360
•	Simple Backgrounds For Cardmaking
•	Bow Tie Clay Necklace
•	Shoebox: Homemade Light Box, Cardboard Designs

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Shoebox: Homemade Light Box, Cardboard Designs

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Shoebox: Homemade Light Box, Cardboard Designs

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